Imphal, June 5, 2017 (DIPR) : Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the Hill Area Development Programme in the State during the Entrepreneurs-Meet-Cum-Exhibition for Entrepreneurs, on Monday. The meet-cum-exhibition was organised by the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd and held at Hotel Imphal, this evening.
Announcing the programme, the Union Minister said we are as good or perhaps better than any other part of the country, the only thing is that we have remained unexplored and now fortunately we have a government to ensure that we are at par with the rest of country.
He continued the announcement of the programme from Manipur itself will carry a message. He said the proposal for the Hill Area Development Scheme was made during a meeting of all Chief Secretaries, Planning Secretaries held on May 30.
He continued the scheme may be initially implmented on a pilot basis in the hill districts of the State.
The Minister also elaborated on the Composite District Infrastructure Index and said out of 80 districts of North Eastern Region (NER), three districts of hilly areas of Manipur namely Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur are ranked lowest in the Composite District Infrastructure Index 2009.
Dr Jitendra continued regarding investment and generation of employment any responsible government will focus more on the employability rather than on employment and that is precisely what the present government under Narendra Modi government in the last three years is trying to achieve.
Chief Minister Shri N Biren Singh said entrepreneur development is the key to successful enterprises which will contribute towards economic development in the region.
He said the NEDFI has been playing an active role in facilitating nurturing, financing and promoting the development of entrepreneurs and enterprises in this region of the country.
Expressing happiness that NEDFI is organising the Entrepreneurs-Meet-Cum-Exhibition for Entrepreneurs in the State, the Chief Minister said it will enable information sharing on the schemes and products with lower cost of fund extended to new and existing business enterprises operating in the State.
He added that, it will also educate and inform the entrepreneurs about the mentoring service provided by NEDFi through its Business Facilitation Centre.
Manipur is poised to catapult into a high growth trajectory in the coming decades because of various factors such as its favourable demographics, agro-climatic conditions, rich culture and traditions, hospitality, rapid urbanisation, improvements in connectivity, formation of a new government with an agenda for development and reforms, growing trend of entrepreneurship and self-employment etc, the CM added.
Commerce & Industries Minister Shri Th Biswajit Singh said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has a dream, a dream of a stronger, more prosperous and self reliant India.
He said India is a country which is primarily agricultural, a country whose backbone is not just large industries but farmers who toil in the sun and the small scale household industries which make up the dreams of the lower and middle economic class, where value adition goes hand in hand with production.
The Minister added Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement “Beez se Bazaar tak” cannot be more fitting for a state like Manipur, a State where there’s tremendous scope for growth in the agricultural, horticultural and tourism sectors as well as in the value addition sector.
He added however, in the absence of any production plan based on “critical volume factor”, maketing linkage with buy-back arrangement, processing facility for value addition and storage facility, the economy is not thriving despite achieving a lot in agriculture, horticulture and forest, etc.
He continued the need of the hour in the State is schemes and programmes which not only utilise the land resources to the fullest but also introduce the tradition of value addition in the agricultural sector.
The Minister also said the main aim is to generate employment to eradicate employment from the State and to achieve that aim, we have made a comprehensive program to provide employment to 1.5 lakh unemployed youth this year.
He said with that aim, the Commerce and Industry department has launched the “State mission on employment generation” which is an integrated program having three part approach.
Minister Biswajit also spoke at length about several high value crops like the Stevia, Dragon-fruit, Citronella, Large Cardamon, Lemon Grass, Turmeric and Ginger which are suitable to Manipur.
He further observed that nine Livelihoodbusiness Incubators have already been established in the country, but there is need of financial asistance to upgrade their infrastructure for them to operate at their optimal level. He continued these LBIs will also be reinforced with the nine Industrial Estates, a well equipped food park, SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and Trade Centre which have all been initiated with pilot testing successful.
Today’s function was also attended by NEC Secretary Shri Ram Muivah, NEDFi CMD BP Muktieh among others. (DIPR)
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